Love's Unending Legacy

This is the fifth Love Comes Softly Series book by Janette Oke, and my favorite. In this story, Marty and Clark come home from their trip to the west to see their daughter Missie and her husband Willie. They had unintentionally stayed a year because Clark had to let his leg heal because it had been crushed in a mine while he was saving some kids. When they got home, Marty tried hard to keep up with Ellie and the more she tries, the more obvious it is that she can't. She ends up with all the signs of being in the family way again.

Zeke LaHaye stops by to hear about his son, grandsons, and the west. He decides to go west to see the family. Willie is sending one of his ranch hands, Lane, that just so happens to have helped Clark in more ways than he knows. Lane comes and accidentally finds Ellie in the barn playing with some puppies, and he immediately loved her. He stayed for supper that night and fell even more in love with Ellie.

At Christmas, Lane helped Ellie with the tree and other preparations. When it's time for the gift exchange, Lane holds back his present for Ellie and gives it to her alone. She said that she can't take his present of love because it would "nigh kill" her mother if she moved west.

Clark and Marty realize that Ellie isn't her usual self and are concerned. Kate, Marty's oldest son's wife, gets to thinking and gets a hunch that Lane and Ellie had them a "sweethearts' quarrel". She told Marty, who asked Clark if he thinks that could be it. He says that it's not only possible, but most likely. That night, Clark told Ellie that her mother is worried about her and says it's all right if she marries and goes west.

Lane comes for dinner one night and Ellie gets his Christmas present from him and puts it on. They have a talk with Clark and then they get married, move west, and live happily ever after!
The End.

Love,
Cara L. Hicks